CAIRO — An anti-terrorist unit from the United Arab Emirates has wrested control of a ship from pirates in the Arabian Sea, state-run media reported Saturday.
The bulk carrier MV Arrilah-1 came under attack at dawn Friday while en route from Australia to Dubai’s Jebel Ali port, the WAM news agency reported.
The agency said Saturday the United Arab Emirates’ special forces, backed by the air force, regained control of the ship off the coast of neighboring Oman. The pirates surrendered as the troops boarded the ship, which is owned by the Abu Dhabi National Tanker Co.
The pirates will be handed over to Emirati authorities upon arrival in the port town of Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, the news agency said.
Cmdr. Amy Derrick-Frost, a representative of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, said the U.S. was aware of a “piracy event” but had no other details. The 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain and is involved in efforts to fight piracy emanating from Somalia.
